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7 B. L. DAVIS WASHING CLAMP Aug. 11, 1959 Filed June 1a, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOOOOOOOOO C OOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOO A A V \J K) \J INVENTOR. BENAJAH L DA v/s BY 10m 640M way,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent WASHING CLAMP Benajah L. Davis, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 592,090

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-74) This invention relates to a clamp for holding laboratory flasks and, more particularly, relates to a clamp for holding a plurality of volumetric flasks for simultaneous washing thereof.

Chemical laboratories use a large number of flasks of various sizes and types for various purposes in their research and/or production operations. These flasks are ordinarily used in large numbers and must often be washed after each use. There is no apparatus on the market, insofar as I am aware, which is specifically adapted for washing this type of flask. Because of the peculiar shape and the strict requirements for cleanliness of such flasks, the satisfactory cleaning of them has been a time consuming job, often requiring the careful attention of a skilled technician. Thus, an undesirable amount of expense has been involved in performing the necessary cleaning operation. It is apparent that substantial savings in the operating costs of a laboratory could be effected if a device suitable for simultaneous washing of a large number of laboratory flasks could be provided.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved clamp for holding laboratory flasks.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved clamp, as aforesaid, which will simultaneously hold a large number of laboratory flasks and permit easy and convenient washing thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved clamp, as aforesaid, which will simultaneously hold a large number of laboratory flasks'and pe'rmit easy and convenient group handling thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved clamp, as aforesaid, which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved clamp, as aforesaid, which will firmly grip a large number of laboratory flasks and prevent breakage thereof when the clamp is manipulated during.

the washing operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved clamp, as aforesaid, which can be readily adapted for use with a wide variety of types of laboratory flasks.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent to those acquainted with equipment of this type upon reading the following description and inspecting the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is a central sectional view of the washing clamp, showing flasks positioned therewithin and the parts ready for a washing operation.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the washing clamp, with the cover pivoted away from the base section.

Figure 3 is a view of a modified structure analogous to a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2, and showing a modification.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a side wall of the base section in the modified structure.

2,899,079 Patented Aug. 11, 1959 Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

General description In general, the invention provides a washing clamp 10, which includes a base section 11 and a cover member 12 pivotally connected to the base section. A rack 13 is disposed within the base section 11 below the cover 12 and is provided with openings through which the necks of the flasks are adapted to pass.

Detailed description The base section 11 is of any desired shape and may conveniently be rectangular in form. The base section is hollow and is preferably open at the top and the bottom. The cover 12. is pivotally connected by hinges 14 along one of its edges to one of the upper edges of base section 11. The cover is preferably rectangular and is adapted to overlie the upper edges of the base section 11 when in closed position. A suitable latch or locking device (not shown) may be provided to lock the cover 12 in position when the clamp is in use. The cover has perforations 15 therethrough in the portion thereof which overlies the open, upper end of base section 11. The perforations permit the washing and/ or rinsing solutions to pass freely therethrough.

The rack 13 is preferably generally rectangular in shape and may be integral with the base section 11 or may be removably positioned therewithin. Said rack 13 is a substantially flat plate and has a plurality of openings 16 therethrough. The openings 16 are of such cross-sectional area as to freely receive the elongated necks 19 of volumetric flasks therethrough, while providing a support for the enlarged base portions 20 of said flasks. The openings are spaced from each other and from the walls of base section 11 a suitable distance to provide for reception of the enlarged base portions 29 of the volumetric flasks in the zone 18 defined by the upper surface of rack 13, the lower surface of cover 12 and the internal surfaces of the Walls of base section 11. The spacing between the upper surface of rack 13 and the lower surface of cover 12 is chosen to provide the proper amount of clearance therebetween for convenient and snug reception and engagement of the enlarged base portions 20 of the flasks by and between said rack and said cover.

The washing clamp 10 is made of suitable material for long life and satisfactory operation. The washing clamp must be capable of continued use under high temperature conditions and, further, must be resistant to the action of washing fluids, solvents, etc. While the clamp can be made of suitable metals, such as stainless steel, in one preferred embodiment said clamp is made of Shelfex, a material available from United States Steel Corporation, Chicago, Illinois, said material being expanded metal made of aluminum, steel, or stainless steel.

Operation In use, the cover 12 is first pivoted away from the base section 11 to permit the loading of the clamp with flasks. The volumetric flasks to be washed are then inserted into the base section, with their elongated necks extending through the openings 16 in the rack 13. The base section 11 is of sufficient axial dimension so that the entirety of the necks of the volumetric flasks lie within the base sec tion 11 and are fully protected thereby. The cover 12 is then pivoted to its closed position and latched in place. The cover 12 contacts the relatively flat bottom walls of the flasks and snugly holds same in position. The washing clamp 10 may then be manipulated through a variety of positions, as may be necessary, the flasks will be securely held and there will be a minimum possibility of breakage. Washing solutions, rinsing agents, or various solvents may be placed into the interior of the flasks or applied to the exterior thereof through the open bottom wall of section 11 and through the perforations 15 in cover 12.

Modifications While the foregoing description has referred to the base section 11 as being one piece, and, further, has shown the rack 13 as being integral with the base section 11, it is apparent that this construction is of limited utility, particularly with respect to its ability to handle differing sizes of laboratory flasks. Hence, it is apparent that it is within the scope of the invention to provide a construction for holding flasks having body portions of various sizes. In Figure 3, the side wall 21 of the base section 11 is provided with an elongated slot 22 (Figure 4), extending in the axial direction of the washing clamp 10. A support bar 23 has a tongue 24 received within slot 22. A locking member 25 extends through openings 26 in the side wall 21 and is threadedly, releasably secured to the support bar 23. Thus, the support bar may be positioned at any desired point along the side wall 21 and thereby provide a support for the rack 13 in a number of different positions. It will be understood that the side wall opposite side wall 21 will be constructed in similar manner so that the rack is supported on opposite edges thereof. The rack 13 may merely rest on support bar 23 and a suitable counterpart thereof on the opposite side of the device, or said rack may be rigidly connected to said suppo-rt bars, as desired.

Further, the washing clamp may be adapted to support flasks having necks of various lengths, while causing it to extend as little as possible beyond the open ends of said necks. The side wall 21 may be divided laterally into a plurality of sections 21a, 21b and 21c. These sections may be releasably secured together by suitable latches, such as latches 27, which include a loop 28 pivotally mounted on a lever 30, which is in turn pivotally mounted on one of a pair of adjacent sections. The loop 28 is adapted to embrace a post 29 on the other of said adjacent sections. Thus, by adding or removing sections 21a or 2112 from the section 21c, the length of the wide wall 21 may be conveniently increased or decreased, as desired, to handle the particular type of flask to be washed.

While washing has been assumed to 'be the operation to be performed on the flasks held within the clamp, and such was in fact the purpose for which said clamp was developed, it will be apparent, in view of the foregoing, that many of the objects of the invention may be accomplished while performing other operations on flasks so held within said clamp.

Although particular, preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed hereinabove for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations therefrom may be made within the terms of the hereinafter appended claims, except as said claims by their own terms expressly require otherwise.

I claim:

1. In a washing clamp for washing laboratory flasks having enlarged lower portions and narrow necks, the combination comprising: an elongated, hollow, base section having spaced, opposed side walls, said base section being open at the top and the bottom; a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of one of said side walls for pivotal movement about a hinge axis substantially c0- planar with said upper edge, said cover being adapted to close off the open top of said base section, and said cover having perforations of small cross-sectional area therethrough so that the enlarged lower portions of the flasks may be supported by said cover and washing fluids may pass through said perforations; a planar rack supported within said base section intermediate the top and bottom thereof, said rack having a series of laterally and transversely spaced openings therethrough, said openings being spaced substantially equal distances from each other; the upper surface of said planar rack being spaced from the planar lower surface of said cover a distance sufficient to permit snug reception of the enlarged portions of said flasks therebetween; said openings being of a crosssectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of said perforations and being of a size suflicient to receive the elongated necks of said flasks therethrough, but of insuflicient size to permit said enlarged portions of said flasks to pass therethrough.

2. In a washing clamp useful for washing laboratory flasks having enlarged lower portions and narrow necks, the combination comprising. an elongated hollow casing including a plurality of aligned casing sections and means releasably securing said sections together, said casing being open at the top and the bottom and having spaced, opposed side walls; a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of one of said side walls for pivotal movement about a hinge axis substantially coplanar with said upper edge, said cover being adapted to close off the open top of said casing, said cover having perforations of small cross-sectional area therethrough so that the enlarged lower portions of the flasks may be supported by said cover and washing fluids may pass through said perforations; a planar rack; means in each of said casing sections for releasably securing said rack in longitudinally adjustable position within said casing, said rack having a series of laterally and transversely spaced openings therethrough, said openings being spaced substantially equal distances from each other; the upper surface of said planar rack being spaced from the lower surface of said cover sufficient to permit snug reception of the enlarged portions of said flasks therebetween, said openings being of a crosssectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of said perforations and being of a size suflicient to receive the elongated necks of said flasks therethrough but of insufflcient size to permit said enlarged portions of said flasks to pass therethrough. 

